Charles s



0's. WESTLAND. EXTENSIB'LB DROP LIGHT.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 21,1882.

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PETERS. Mme-Lithographer. Washingtom D4 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. GHARLES \VESTLAND, OF PROVIDENCE, R. I., ASSIGNOR TO ADDISON'H. WHITEAND HENRY L. FAIRBROTHER, OF SAME PLACE.

EXTENSIBLE DROP-L|GHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,224, dated March21, 1882. I

' Application filed October 12. 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. WEsrLAND, of the city and county ofProvidence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and uset'ulImprovement in Extensible DropLights; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing specification, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the same, is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

My improvement is intended to enable a drop-light provided with akerosene or other fluid burning lamp to be conveniently adj usted andheld to anyposition from the ceiling of the room within the limitsproper for such domestic conveniences; and the invention con sistsgenerally in such a construction of the extensiblesupportingmember oft-helamp that the resistance of a confined cushion of air can be madeavailable for aiding in supporting the weight of the lamp and itsattachments and the degree of such resistance be conveniently regulatedto meet vary ing requirements.

- Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents my improved drop-lightin elevation and partly in section. Fig. 2 shows a section on line a: 00of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents in section a portion of the supporting-tubeand the interior pipe.

A is a tube properly secured to and pendent from the ceiling of theroom. B represents a kerosene-burning lamp, which in this instance ismounted in a harp-shaped frame or support, 0. This frame, or at leastone side of it, is tubular, and is connected by a suitable coupling, 0,to the pipe I). This pipe is somewhat smaller in external diameter thanthe interior diameter of the pendent tube A, as indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1, and shown in section in Fig. 3. The drawing Fig. 1represents the drop-light as standing near its highest elevation. Thepipe D should be of sufficient length and extend enough into the tube Ato permit the full amount of downward extension required. The upper endof the pipeD is (urnished with a piston, D, the sides of which shouldfit closely the interior bore of the tube A, so as to prevent thepassage of air; and it will be found desirable in practice to pack thepiston with some suitable fibrous. packing, as shown in Fig.3. The lowerend of thetube A is provided with a stuffing-box,A, Fig. 1, of wellknownconstruction, so as to exclude the passage of air from within the tube Aaround the pipe 1). It is obvious that if the drop-light be lowered theair within the tube A below the piston will be compressed and thereactionary force caused by such compression, unless balanced by theweight of the lamp and its attach- 6oments, would cause the piston D tobe forced upward. In order, therefore, to regulate the air-resistanceconsequent upon the formation of an air-cushion between thelowerface ofthe piston and the stutfing-box A, so that it will be just equal to orbut slightly in excess of the weight of the lamp, 1 perforate the pipeDwith a sufficient number of holes, d, close adjoining the piston, asshown in Fig. 3, to enable the compressed air to enter through the sameand pass down the pipe into the frame 0. To enable the excess ofpressure to be relieved, I place at an y convenient point-as, forinstance,

at the place usually occupied by the cock in a gas drop-light-a springcheck-valve, E. This 5 valve is opened by means of a rod connectedthereto, and furnished with a button-head, E, and is kept closed by thepressure of a spring,

6, or it may be constructed in any other convenient way, so long as itwill enable the excess of air-pressure beyond what is required tosustain the lamp and its attachments at the desired height to escapeuntil any tendency of the lamp to creep upward is relieved. When thelamp is to be raised toward the ceiling the valve E should be againopened, so as to allow the external air to enter and supply the partialvacuum in the tube A, which otherwise would occur.

In order to prevent the air above the piston from being compressed whenthe drop-light is elevated and from being attenuated when the light islowered, a series of holes, a, are made at any convenient place in thetube A above the range of movement of the piston D, the air 5 enteringor discharging through which maintains always above the piston simpleatmospheric pressure. The friction occasioned by i i I the packingaround the piston D and in the lamps, is-

1. The combination, substantially as above set forth, ofa pendent tube,a pipe arranged to slide within the bore of said tube, a piston attachedto said sliding pipe, a stuffing-box preventing the escape of air fromthe mouth of the pendent tube, apertures in the sliding pipe connectingthe annular space within the tube with the interior of the sliding pipe,and a relief-valve to permit the escape of any excess of air-pressurewhen the drop-lightislowered, and to permit the admission of air whenthe light is elevated.

2. The combination, substantially as above set forth, of a pendent tube,a sliding piston attached to a pipe arranged to move within the bore ofthe pendent tube, air-apertures to maintain an equilibrium of pressurelocated in the pendent tube above the range of movement of the piston, astufiing-box to prevent the escape of compressed air at the mouth of thetube when the drop-light is extended downward, apertures in the slidingpipe connecting the annular space within the tube with thcinterior ofthe sliding pipe, and a relief-valve to permit the escape of any excessof air-pressure when the drop-light is lowered, and to permit theadmission of air when the light is elevated.

O HARLES S. WESTLAND.

Witnesses W. H. THURSTON, I. KNIGHT.

